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Letter to the Editor

I read the article that was printed this past week in the Talon on
homeschoolers and think it is one of the worst pieces on homeschooling
I have ever read. What irritated me even more was the thought that it
was written by a homeschooler. The entire article was written from a
negative, stereotypical point of view. It also spent considerable time
on the “extreme homeschoolers,” instead of focusing on the ones that OC
students exist with everyday.

I was homeschooled all my life and enjoyed it tremendously. I have now
been at OC for six weeks and have made my own way. I have been told by
some of my friends that I don’t “act” like a homeschooler; more than
likely meaning that I am not a conservative freak and have adapted very
well to college life, sometimes even better than my public school
friends. I am not “freakishly smart, freakishly religious, or socially
inept.” I study, I hang out with my friends, and I try to live my life
as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I do not know where your Special Opinions Writer came from in his home
school past, but he has obviously not gotten over the home school
stereotypes. What does he mean by, “they’re striving to fit into the
world’s definition of “normal” just like anyone else.” When have we
decided what the world’s definition of normal is? The author does not
even state that in his conclusion, and many homeschoolers I know are
quite content with who they are. They are not trying to be “normal” in
the world’s eyes. (Though we have yet to find out what that is.) It
takes all kinds of people, from all walks of life, with all sorts of
experiences to make a world.

The paper should stay clear of biased, stereotypical home school
writers who are quite sure that homeschoolers are having a hard time
fitting into the world. Please understand that homeschoolers do not
live under rocks, and are quite aware of what is going on in the world.